Hair Transplant & Restoration

If you are fortunate enough to have a full head of hair in your fifties, chances are you’ll keep it for life. However, for many men, hair loss will be inevitable. Roughly 80% of men will experience some amount of balding, with in a noticeable change in appearance. Many men (and women) become increasingly self-conscious as their hair begins to become progressively thinner and eventually dies alltogether.

Most often, hair loss is not caused by an illness but is simply a genetic trait. It begins most often in middle age, but can start as early as in the teens. It can also skip generations. And it is not necessarily passed on from the mother’s side of the family, as a widely circulated myth claims. Scientists aren’t really certain how this genetic trait is passed on.

There are several available treatments for restoring a natural looking head of hair. The most common is the hair transplant or hair restoration. In a hair transplant, the doctor removes hair follicles from a different part of the body and grafts them onto the area of balding or thinning. Micrografts (grafts of 2-3 hairs) and minigrafts (grafts of 4 or more hairs) are frequently placed just behind the hairline to build up hair density.

If you are considering a hair transplant, the following information will provide you with a good introduction to the procedure. For more detailed information about how this procedure may help you, we recommend that you consult with our medeical director, Dr. Michael A. Kremer, MD, who is board certified or has completed a residency program that includes instruction in this procedure.

If you're considering hair transplant & restoration, the following information will provide you with a good introduction to the procedure. For further information please schedule a consultation with Dr. M. Kremer.

What are some of the most common benefits of hair transplant or restoration?

Hair transplant can provide a new, natural-looking head of hair. While hair transplants do not actually add any hair to the head, they can provide the appearance of more hair.

How are the treatments performed?

Before the Dr. M. Kremer performs this procedure, he will arrange for a consultation with you. During the consultation, Dr. M. Kremer will talk to you about the changes that you would like to make in your appearance. He will explain the different options available to you, the procedure itself, and its risks and limitations. He will also explain the kind of anesthesia required, the location where it will be performed, and the costs.

Dr. M. Kremer will begin with a complete medical history. He may also take photos, and give you specific instructions about how to prepare for the procedure. Be sure to tell Dr. Kremer if you have had previous hair replacement surgery, if you smoke, or if you take any drugs or medications, including aspirin.

Take this opportunity to ask all the questions you have about the procedure, and ask to see photos of Dr. Kremer's recent patients, before and after procedure. Also ask for, and follow up on, patient references. Learning everything you can about your options, risks and benefits is the key to making an informed decision.

Strips or patches of hair are taken from the back of the head. Hair from this area is less likely to thin, regardless of where it is transplanted. Hair removal from this area is also virtually undetectable. As much as half of the hair in this area can be taken without producing a noticeable difference.

The removed patches, or strips, are cut into smaller pieces, which are then “planted” in the balding area. This transplanted hair continues to grow just as it did before. It will not thin or die unless hair in the region of the head from which it was taken also thins or dies.

There are two common methods used for removing hair to be transplanted. Hair can be removed in small circular areas (plugs), each containing between eight and twelve hairs. Or, hair may also be removed in long strips along the sides or near the bottom of the hairline. The advantage of the second method is that it provides the physician with more hair to cut and mold into different-sized plugs and/or grafts. Thousands of grafts can be created from one strip of hair, each containing as few as 1-2 hairs.

Next, incisions slightly smaller than the plugs are made in the balding area. For grafts, even smaller incisions are made with a tiny scalpel, or even a needle. The plugs/grafts are carefully spaced in order to allow adequate blood supply and produce a natural angle, growth direction and appearance.

Sutures are applied to close the area where the grafts or plugs were taken from. The skin will naturally stretch to cover a wider area. No sutures are required in the area where the plugs and grafts have been placed. The body’s natural fluids will bond the plugs and grafts to the head.

How long do the treatments take?

Dr. M. Kremer may perform more than one session of transplanting to achieve the best results. Each transplanting session takes between two and four hours, depending on the extent of the treatment.

Where are the treatments performed?

A hair transplant is performed int our office surgical suite. Most hair transplants are performed under local anesthesia, if necessary (rarely) combined with a sedative to make you drowsy. You'll be awake but relaxed, and although you may feel some tugging and mild discomfort, you won’t feel any pain.

How much pain is there?

The amount of pain depends on the extent of the procedure, and varies from person to person. Immediately following the procedure, there may be some mild discomfort that can be alleviated with oral pain medication. You should discuss your goals, budget, and pain tolerance with Dr. M. Kremer in order to help him determine the procedure, or combination of procedures, that will produce the best results for you.

What can I expect after a hair transplant?

During the first two or three days following the procedure, there may be some discomfort in both the area that hair was taken from as well as the area of the transplant. Mild headache, swelling and bruising around the eyes are common.

Bandages are usually applied after the procedure and should be left in place overnight. The sutures are self-absorbign and do not need to me removed. It is common for medical staff to shampoo the hair the first time after the procedure, and Dr. M. Kremer will give you instructions regarding hair grooming during your recovery. Some scabbing usually occurs in both areas, and should disappear within about 8-10 days Some numbness may also occur, and may last for up to 2-3 months.

There is a small risk of the plugs/grafts coming out, so you should avoid vigorous or strenuous exercise until scabs have completely healed.

Other than avoiding vigorous exercise, most people are able to return to their normal routine the day after the procedure.

About two days after the procedure, the hair from the graft will begin to fall out, and hair re-growth may be thinner for several months. This is normal, and is caused by the brief period of diminished blood supply that occurs during the procedure.

During the first month and a half, little or no new hair will grow in. However, within three months of the operation, new hair will begin to sprout in the grafts. After another three months, the procedure may be repeated to fill in spaces between the grafts, for an even fuller, thicker head of hair.

Because the plugs and grafts are taken from areas where hair is strong and healthy, transplants should continue to grow throughout an individual’s lifetime. While it normal for some of the grafts not to take, most people are pleased with the results of their hair transplant.

Ideal candidate:

In general, the best candidates for hair transplants are:

• Mature enough to fully understand the procedure
• Knowledgeable about the procedure
• In good physical and psychological health
• Wanting to improve their appearance
• Realistic in their expectations
• Non-smokers or able to stop smoking during the healing process
• Possessing healthy hair on the sides and back of the head
• Informed about the effects of their hair texture on the outcome

The above is only a partial list of the criteria that Dr. M. Kremer will consider in determining whether or not this procedure is appropriate for you. Be sure to ask Dr. Kremer if he considers you an ideal candidate for this surgery.

The above is only a partial list of the criteria that Dr. M. Kremer will consider in determining whether or not this procedure is appropriate for you.

Risks and limitations:

Complications are usually minor when a hair transplant is performed by a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon with experience in performing hair transplants. You can reduce your risk of complications by closely following Dr. M. Kremer's instructions both before and after the procedure. You should be aware that:

• Scarring may occur on the graft sites. However, most scars are small and are covered up by growing hair.
• Infection can occur in the grafted areas. Dr. M. Kremer may decide to prescribe antibiotics before the procedure, as a precaution, or afterward if infection occurs.

You can reduce your risk of complications by closely following Dr. M. Kremer's instructions both before and after the procedure.

Hair transplant costs:

Please refer to our fees information chapter.

Be sure to:

• Tell Dr. Kremer about any allergies you have (to foods, drugs, environmental elements)
• Tell Dr. Kremer if you have a history of bad scarring, such as keloids.
• Tell Dr. Kremer about all medications, herbal supplements or natural supplements you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription)
• Carefully follow any instructions Dr. Kremer gives you regarding eating and drinking and smoking.
• Avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing medicines for two weeks prior to surgery.
• Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery or after discharge from the hospital.
• Please inform Dr. Kremer immediately in case you should experience fever or symptoms of an infection after surgery.
• Please use a cooling mask or ice packs to reduce swelling an discomfort after surgery.
• Refrain from strenuous physical activities during the first days after surgery.

The information on this web site is only intended as an introduction to this procedure and should not be used to determine whether you will have the procedure performed nor as a guarantee of the result. 

The best method of determining your personal options is to schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Kremer. He will be able to answer specific questions related to your situation.